AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy from Wotton-under-Edge required hospital treatment after injuring himself on a piece of equipment in Charfield play area that had been damaged by vandals.

The incident happened last month after the child fell onto a post that had been damaged.

The wooden post, which had chucks removed from it, is one of several items damaged in the play area and Charfield Memorial Hall during latest spate of vandalism.

The cost of repairing the damage is expected to run to hundreds of pounds and Charfield Parish Council and the memorial hall management committee are at a loss as to how to stop the vandals.

At Tuesday's meeting councillors heard how damage caused in two separate incidents at the memorial hall last month would cost in excess of £1,000 to repair.

Management committee chairman Cllr Sandra O'Neill explained that virtually all the hall windows were smashed and there was a break-within just a few days last month.

"The committee had to have an emergency meeting to try to work out what to do," added Cllr O'Neill. "It is incredibly disheartening as we, with the councils help, have just spent a lot of money decorating the hall and then this happens. We are all volunteers and we offer a good service to the village. We just feel we are being targeted."

A multi-play piece of equipment in the play area has had to be altered after vandals cut through the wire rope of the bridge connecting the two parts of the frame.

Vice-chairman Cllr Jane Pedley said she was amazed someone had actually cut through the wires.

"It is sadly getting to the stage that if we are going to keep the equipment we are going to have to put a 12ft fence around it like they do in inner city areas," she said.

Cllr O'Neill told the council that during a recent visit from a crime prevention officer it was suggested all instances of vandalism, no matter how small, should be reported to the police.